Device for distributing particles in a fluid and methods thereof

ABSTRACT

A vial and particles for distributing reagent bound particles in a fluid, a kit, and methods for distributing particles in a fluid.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a stirring device for suspending coatedparticles forming the solid phase of a fluid for in vitro diagnosticassays.

BACKGROUND

Most commonly, in vitro diagnostic assays that use a liquid suspensionof a solid phase support such as particles, for example, paramagneticparticles require a homogeneous suspension of such particles to beuseful in the diagnostic assay. These particles tend to settle to thebottom of a container when the container holding the particles is storedin an upright, non-moving position. The particles require mixing tobring them back to liquid homogeneous suspension before the particlescan be used in a diagnostic assay.

Commonly used mixers in automated clinical analyzers typically consistof rotors for generating rotary movement of the particle container orrotary movement of an element within the particle container for a givenperiod of time before the particles in the container may be sampled foruse in a diagnostic assay. Mixing to resuspend the particles during therotary movement is commonly aided by turbulence in the containergenerated by frequent changes of direction of the rotary movement and bythe internal design of the container itself.

Presently, known mixers used in automated clinical analyzers fail toachieve complete resuspension and homogenization of particles. A commoncause for this failure arises from the difficulty in disruptinginteractions formed by the coated particles. These interactions willoccur more frequently when the particles have settled to the bottom oftheir container. Such interactions are commonly due to electrostatic andhydrophobic interactions, either between the surface of the particles orbetween the surface of the particles and the walls of the container.Small aggregates of particles formed due to these interactions areparticularly difficult to disrupt using solely rotary movement of thecontainer.

An improved mixing system for rapidly and thoroughly resuspending andhomogenizing coated particles useful as the solid phase supportcomponent in in vitro diagnostic assays is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention relates to a kit for uniform distributionof particles in a fluid. In one embodiment, the kit, according to theinvention, comprises a vial. The vial is suitable for holding a fluid.The kit also includes a plurality of first particles, each of the firstparticles having a diameter. A reactant is bound to at least one of thefirst particles. The kit further includes a plurality of secondparticles, each of the second particles having a diameter. The ratio ofthe diameter of the second particles to the diameter of the firstparticles is in the range of about 100:1, 1000:1, or about 10,000:1.

In one embodiment of the kit, the vial comprises an opening forintroducing an aspirator. In another embodiment, the vial includes anintraluminal agitator joined to the vial.

In a particular embodiment of the kit, the vial is non-pressurized, forexample the contents of the vial are at atmospheric pressure.

The reactant bound to the at least one first particle may be at leastone antibody, protein, or nucleic acid. In a particular embodiment, thesecond particles are not bound by reactants; i.e., the second particlesare free of reactants. According to one embodiment of the kit accordingto the invention, the plurality of first and second particles areenclosed in the vial.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a cartridge for an automatedclinical analyzer including a plurality of vials for holding reagentsuseful in a diagnostic assay. The cartridge features at least onerotatable vial and a plurality of first particles and second particlesenclosed by the vial. The ratio of the diameter of the second particlesto the diameter of the first particles is in the range of, for example,10,000:1. In one embodiment, the rotatable vial has a top with anopening for probe access. The cartridge provides a reagent and aplurality of first particles for the analysis of a target analyte in apatient body fluid by the automated clinical analyzer.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for uniformlydistributing particles in a fluid. The method includes the steps ofproviding a plurality of first particles, a fluid, and a vial. The vialis suitable for holding the fluid and the first particles. The methodfurther provides a plurality of second particles, the second particlescomprising a width at least ten times larger than the width of the firstparticles. The second particles, first particles, and the fluid areplaced in the vial and the vial holding the second particles, firstparticles, and fluid, is rotated whereby the first particles areuniformly distributed in the fluid.

These and other objects, along with advantages and features of thepresent invention herein disclosed, will become apparent throughreferences to the following description, the accompanying drawings, andthe claims. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the features of thevarious embodiments described herein are not mutually exclusive and canexist in various combinations and permutations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention disclosed herein, as well as the invention itself, will bemore fully understood from the following description of preferredembodiments and claims when read together with the accompanyingdrawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis insteadgenerally being placed upon illustrating the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a vial enclosing first particles and second particlesaccording to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph of the data obtained from a chemiluminescent study ofthe effect of paramagnetic particle mixing in the presence and in theabsence of second particles.

DESCRIPTION

In one aspect, the invention is a system for mixing first particles in afluid. The first particles 10 are typically round, or substantiallyround. Typically, the fluid is a buffer or a fluid reagent. The firstparticles 10 have a reactant bound to the particle surface. The firstparticles 10 provide a solid support for the reactants in an in vitroassay for a target analyte, for example a target antibody or a targetantigen, in a patient's body fluid. The patient's body fluid may bewhole blood, serum, plasma, synovial fluid, cerebro-spinal fluid, orurine, for example.

In one aspect, the invention relates to a kit for mixing first particles10 in a fluid. The kit includes a vial 20, a plurality of firstparticles 10, and a plurality of second particles 12. The kit furtherincludes a reactant associated with, for example, bound to, at least oneof the plurality of first particles 10. As used herein a reactant meansa substance that interacts with an analyte in a patient's body fluid.The second particles 12 each have a diameter that is larger than thediameter of the first particles 10 and may be similar or different incomposition than the first particles 10. Typically, a reactant is notassociated with the second particles 12.

Referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment of the kit according to theinvention, the vial 20 is substantially cylindrical, and has a bottom 22to form a compartment capable of holding a fluid. The bottom 22 of thevial 20 may be flat, concave, or convex. In one embodiment of theinvention, the top 24 of the vial 20 has an opening or a perforable sealsuitable for introducing a probe such as, for example, an aspiratorprobe or an agitator probe. In another embodiment of the invention, thetop 24 of the vial 20 includes a cap (not illustrated), for example, aremovable cap. In a particular embodiment, the vial 20 isnon-pressurized. For example, the vial contents are maintained atatmospheric pressure before, during, and after agitation of the firstparticles in the vial.

In another embodiment, the vial 20 includes an intraluminal agitator(not shown). The intraluminal agitator may be, for example, alongitudinal projection that projects from the wall of the vial 20 intothe lumen 26 of the vial 20. The intraluminal agitator may extend fromthe top 24 of the vial 20 to the bottom 22 of the vial 20 or along anyvertical length of the cylinder of the vial 20.

In one embodiment of the kit according to the invention, the firstparticles 10 are made from materials such as polymers, for example latexor polystyrene, acrylics, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene,glass, paramagnetic materials, metal such as stainless steel, titanium,nickel titanium and metal alloys, ceramics, or combinations of theabove. The width or the diameter of each of the first particles 10 is,for example, in the range of about 0.01 micrometers to 7 micrometers,preferably 0.2 micrometers to 6 micrometers, more preferably 0.3micrometers to 5 micrometers, 5 micrometers, or 1 micrometer.

Reactants bound to the first particles 10 are, for example, one or moreantibodies, antigens, analytes, receptors or its ligand, lectins,proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, polymers, fragments of the above, orcombinations of the above. In particular examples, the reactant bound tothe first particle 10 is beta₂ glycoprotein,cardiolipin-beta-2-glycoprotein I complex, PVS-PF4 complex, monoclonalantibody, polyclonal antibody, or a viral antigen.

The second particles 12, according to the invention, are made frommaterials such as polymers, for example latex or polystyrene, acrylics,polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, glass, paramagneticmaterials, metals such as stainless steel, titanium, nickel-titanium andmetal alloys, ceramics, or combinations of the above. The materials usedto make the second particles 12 are inert and will not interfere with orbe damaged by components of the reagents or sample fluid placed in thevial. The second particles 12 are large enough and of sufficient massthat they do not remain in suspension in a fluid after agitation. Thewidth or diameter of the second particles 12 is larger than the width ordiameter of the first particles 10. For example, the ratio of thediameter of the second particles 12 to the diameter of the firstparticles 10 is in the range of about 10:1 to 100:1, 100:1 to 1000;1,1000:1 to 10,000:1, or 10,000:1 to 100,000:1. Preferably, the ratio isin the range of 1000:1, more preferably 3000:1. The diameter of thesecond particles 12 may be in the range of about 100 micrometers to 10millimeters, preferably 1 millimeter to 8 millimeters, more preferably 2millimeters to 6 millimeters, more preferably 3 millimeters to 4millimeters.

In one embodiment of the kit, the first particles 10 and the secondparticles 12 are packaged together in the vial 20. Alternatively, onlythe first particles 10 are packaged in the vial 20. In this embodiment,the second particles 12 are included but separately packaged in the kitfrom the first particles 10. In yet another embodiment, each of the vial20, first particles 10, and second particles 12 of the kit are packagedseparately in the kit.

According to the invention, when placed in the vial 20 the secondparticles 12 cover from about 5% to 75%, preferably 10 to 50%, morepreferably 25-50% of the surface of the bottom 22 of the vial 20. Forexample, in one embodiment four second particles 12 each having adiameter of about 3 mm are placed in a vial 20 having a bottom diameterof about 15 mm. Alternatively, for example, 6-8 second particles 12 eachhaving a diameter of about 3 mm are placed in a vial 20 having a bottomdiameter of about 30 mm. The percentage of the surface of the bottom 22of the vial 20 that is covered and is within these ranges enhancessuspension of the first particles 10 when the vial 20 holding the firstparticles 10 and the second particles 12 is rotated, preferably rotatedin an oscillating, i.e., to-and-fro pattern. According to the invention,rotation of the vial 20 provides superior homogeneous and/or more rapidmixing of the first particles 10 in the presence of the second particles12 than rotation of the vial 20 with the first particles 10 alone.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the first particles 10suspended in the presence of the second particles 12 remain insuspension in the range of about, for example, 1 second to 120 minutes,20 seconds to 240 seconds, or 5 seconds to 60 seconds after rotation hasstopped.

According to the invention, the kit may further include a cartridge (notshown). The cartridge may be suitable for insertion in an automatedclinical analyzer. In one embodiment of the invention, the cartridgeincludes at least one rotatable vial 20 enclosing a plurality of firstparticles 10, e.g., paramagnetic particles and at least one secondparticle 12. The rotatable vial 20 may house a fluid such as a buffer.In one embodiment, the cartridge may include one or more non-rotatablevials. Each of the one or more non-rotatable vials may house one or morereagents to be used in the assay.

The analyzer may include a probe (not shown), e.g., an aspirator, forinsertion through the top of the vial 20 holding the first particles 10to aspirate and transfer the first particles 10 to a reaction chambersuch as a cuvette. In one embodiment of the invention, the diameter ofthe lumen of the probe tip that comes in contact with the fluid in thevial 20 holding the first particles 10 and second particles 12 isgreater than the diameter of the first particles 10 and smaller than thediameter of the second particles 12. Alternatively, the diameter of thelumen of the probe tip is the same as or greater than the diameter ofthe second particles 12.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for mixingparticles in a fluid. According to the method, the first particles 10including a reactant bound to at least one of the first particles 10,the second particles 12, and a fluid, for example, a buffer, are placedin a vial 20. The vial 20 is placed on a rotator such as a rotatingplate or a rotating rod on a clinical analytical instrument manufacturedby, for example, Instrumentation Laboratory Company, Lexington, Mass.The vial 20 including the first particles 10 and the second particles 12is rotated. According to one embodiment, rotation of the vial 20 occursin a to and fro manner (oscillating).

During rotation of the vial 20 containing the first particles 10 andsecond particles 12, the second particles 12 roll along the bottom 22 ofthe vial 20 displacing any first particles 10 also on the bottom 22thereby suspending the first particles 10 in the fluid in the vial 20.Collision of the second particles 12 with aggregates of the firstparticles 10 aids in breaking apart aggregates of first particles 10.

Exemplification of the Invention

A chemiluminescent immunoassay study was conducted using a proteinreagent bound to paramagnetic particles approximately 1.0 micrometer indiameter as the solid phase of the assay. Paramagnetic particles (firstparticles) with the bound protein were placed in two vials. In the firstvial, four glass balls (second particles) each about 3 mm in diameterwere added to the vial with the first particles. In the second vial, noglass balls (second particles) were added to the vial with the firstparticles.

The first vial and the second vial were stored for 18 hours in anupright position.

After this time period, each vial was placed on the rotator of animmunoanalyzer. Resuspension of the first particles in each assay wasdetermined after a pre-determined number of rotations (oscillation) ofthe first and second vials. Percent resuspension is calculated as afunction of the obtained assay result versus the expected result whenthe particles are completely resuspended.

Referring to FIG. 2, the graph shows that in the presence of the glassballs (first vial with second particles) 100% +/−10% of expected signalis achieved after one mixing cycle. In the absence of the glass balls(second vial without second particles) only 34% of the expected signalis recovered after one mixing cycle. Only after four mixing cycles ofthe second vial, nearly 100% of the expected signal is obtained. Fromthis data it is evident that the presence of the second particlesenhances the suspension of the first particles in a shorter period oftime than suspension of the first particles in the absence of the secondparticles.

1-30. (canceled)
 31. A method for uniformly suspending stored,reactant-bound, polymeric particles in a fluid, comprising: providing aplurality of non-reactive polymeric first particles, at least one ofsaid first particles having a reactant bound thereto; providing aplurality of second particles, said second particles free of saidreactant and comprising an inert material and being larger than saidfirst particles; and, agitating said second particles with said firstparticles in said fluid, whereby said first particles are uniformlysuspended in said fluid.
 32. The method of claim 31 wherein the ratio ofthe diameter of said second particles to the diameter of said firstparticles is in a range of about 10:1 to 100,000:1.
 33. The method ofclaim 31 wherein said second particles comprise a polymer.
 34. Themethod of claim 31 wherein said second particles comprise a ceramicmaterial.
 35. The method of claim 31 wherein said second particlescomprise a metal.
 36. The method of claim 31 wherein said secondparticles comprise a glass.
 37. The method of claim 31 wherein saidfirst particles comprise a latex.
 38. The method of claim 31 furthercomprising adding said fluid and said first particles to a vial.
 39. Themethod of claim 38 further comprising rotating said vial to suspend saidfirst particles.
 40. The method of claim 39 wherein said first particlesremain substantially uniformly suspended in said fluid for a length oftime in a range of about 5 seconds to 120 minutes after said rotationhas stopped.
 41. The method of claim 39 wherein said first particlesremain substantially uniformly distributed in said fluid for a length oftime in a range of about 20 seconds to 240 seconds after said rotationhas stopped.
 42. The method of claim 39 wherein said first particlesremain substantially uniformly distributed in said fluid for a length oftime in a range of about 5 seconds to 60 seconds after said rotation hasstopped.
 43. The method of claim 39 wherein said rotation isoscillating.
 44. The method of claim 38 wherein said vial isnon-pressurized.
 45. The method of claim 38 further comprising addingsaid plurality of second particles to said vial, wherein said pluralityof second particles cover 10 to 50% of the surface of the bottom of saidvial.
 46. The method of claim 38 further comprising adding saidplurality of second particles to said vial, wherein said plurality ofsecond particles cover 25 to 50% of the surface of the bottom of saidvial.
 47. The method of claim 31 wherein the ratio of the diameter ofthe second particles to the diameter of the first particles is in arange of more than about 1000:1 to 10,000:1, or about 10,000:1 to100,000:1.
 48. A kit, comprising: a plurality of non-reactive polymericfirst particles, said first particles comprising a diameter and areactant bound to at least one of said first particles; and, a pluralityof second particles, said second particles free of said reactant andcomprising an inert material and a diameter, wherein the ratio of thediameter of the second particles to the diameter of the first particlescomprises a range of about 10:1 to about 100,000:1.
 49. The kit of claim48 wherein the range is about 10:1 to about 100:1.
 50. The kit of claim48 wherein the range is about 100:1 to about 1000:1.
 51. The kit ofclaim 48 wherein the range is about 1000:1 to about 10,000:1.
 52. Thekit of claim 48 wherein the range is about 10,000:1 to about 100,000:1.53. The kit of claim 48 wherein said reactant comprises an antibody. 54.The kit of claim 48 wherein said reactant comprises a protein.
 55. Thekit of claim 48 wherein said reactant comprises a nucleic acid.
 56. Thekit of claim 48 wherein said second particles comprise a polymer. 57.The kit of claim 48 wherein said second particles comprise a ceramicmaterial.
 58. The kit of claim 48 wherein said second particles comprisea metal.
 59. The kit of claim 48 wherein said second particles comprisea glass material.
 60. The kit of claim 48 wherein said first particlescomprise a latex.